irreality

Just your everyday average 700+HP AWD Nissan GT-R…

Switzer Performance pulls off this monstrous upgrade with bigger turbos, bigger intercoolers, custom fuel management, and by surgically removing emission components such as the catalytic converters.

Switzer Performance's P800 Nissan GT-R

The final results are brutal – over 700 horsepower at the wheels, while keeping the rest of the car intact and on a diet of 93 octane fuel.  More pictures and first drive comments can be found at Jalopnik.com.

GM told to prepare for bankruptcy

The Treasury Department is directing General Motors to lay the groundwork for a bankruptcy filing by a June 1 deadline.

The goal is to prepare for a fast “surgical” bankruptcy, the people who had been briefed on the plans said. G.M., which has been granted $13.4 billion in federal aid, insists that a quick restructuring is necessary so its image and sales are not damaged permanently.

Treasury officials are examining one potential outcome in which the “good G.M.” enters and exits bankruptcy protection in as little as two weeks, using $5 billion to $7 billion in federal financing, a person who had been briefed on the prospect said last week.

The rest of G.M. may require as much as $70 billion in government financing, and possibly more to resolve the health care obligations and the liquidation of the factories, according to legal experts and federal officials.

Of course, GM could theoretically reach an agreement with the UAW and GM bondholders to exchange roughly $28 billion in debt into GM Equity before the deadline, but I’ll not start holding my breath now.

I’ve talked a few times about GM now, mostly because I have a sentimental attraction towards many classic GM products, would love to see the Volt become a success, and can genuinely say that I like a lot of their cars.  While we all know that GM is in a world of financial shit (Chrysler is in it too, just not as deep), I guess I was hoping this part of GM would not have to be cut down.

Alas, today after making public the company’s Viability Plan, GM announced that the High Performance Vehicle Operations Team will be dismantled, its members moving to other departments.

“All high-performance projects are on indefinite hold. – Vince Muniga, GM Spokesman

No doubt it was a foolish hope of mine, but after seeing the the performance of the V-Series Cadillacs, and seeing the teams potential in cars like the Chevrolet Cobalt SS and the HHR SS, I was looking forward to what else might come from these talented engineers.  I still firmly believe that domestic automakers should need to compete on the same playing field as their import competitors, and that includes comparable small performance automobiles that are within reach of the average buyer.

As for the Plan itself?  GM is requesting an additional $16.6 billion, bringing the total amount of money lent to $30 billion if approved.  GM proposes that they will be able to start repaying the loans in 2012, assuming all goes as planned.  HUMMER will be sold or phased out, SAAB will request assistance from the Swedish government (and will be filing bankruptcy at the end of the month if no agreement with Sweden is reached), and as for poor Saturn…  the brand will be laid to rest in about 3 years when the current product cycle ends unless the dealers and investors can come up with a way to sell it or spin off the line into something else.

Going forward, GM will mainly focus on the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC brands, with Pontiac morphing into a niche brand with fewer models.

Only time will tell if it’s enough to save GM.

Autonews.com is reporting that GM North America President Troy Clarke announced today that GM would be focusing U.S. product and marketing resources on Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC, while actively seeking a buyer for Saab and Hummer.  In addition, the automaker plans to eliminate 1,900 dealerships by 2012.

“We have to re-engineer the way we’re doing business in many regards,” Clarke said. “We’re going to be a smaller company.”

Pontiac also will be shrinking, Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told reporters today.  It’s line will be reduced down to just the G8, the G5, the Vibe, the Solstice and the Solstice hardtop coupe.

Saturn – who hasn’t made a profit since 1993 – is being looked at closely as well, said Clarke.

We’ve entered into a very, very open and candid dialogue with our Saturn retailers, it just hasn’t been a good business for us.  We need some breakthrough options here, we can’t continue brands that have no prospect of earning their way.

Between this and the news of GM selling off 250 vehicles from their their private “Heritiage Collection”, it seems GM has seen the light and is ready to make changes.  Let’s hope it’s not too little, too late.

From the BuffaloBeast.com

This law needs to be extended statewide – no, nationwide – immediately. There is no reason not to tow a car that is being operated without insurance, as it is illegal for that vehicle to be operating on public highways in the first place.

DALLAS – Drivers with no proof of insurance will have their vehicles towed under a new policy that goes into effect Jan. 1. On that date, the Dallas Police Department will enforce the Uninsured Motorist Ordinance approved by the Dallas City Council on May 28.

Under this ordinance drivers stopped for a traffic violation who cannot show proof of auto insurance meeting state requirements will be issued a citation and will have his or her vehicle towed at the owner’s expense to the Dallas Auto Pound. The City already tows the vehicles of uninsured drivers involved in traffic accidents.

“The Dallas Police Department currently issues about 75,000 citations a year to motorists with no auto insurance,” said Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle. “In addition, officers towed over 3000 vehicles from accident scenes in 2007 where the driver did not have insurance. Motorists are urged to obtain the proper state required auto insurance to avoid having their vehicles towed.”

People are already bitching about this, calling it a “poor man tax”, and you know what?  Tough shit.  If you can’t afford to cover your car with the basic liability insurance that the state of Texas already requires all drivers to have…

or, can’t obtain insurance because you’re here illegally…

you do not deserve the privilege of driving on our public streets and highways.